Pumping unit for multiple wells



Sept. 25, 1962 P. R. MCSTRAVICK PUMPING UNIT FOR MULTIPLE WELLS Filed Dec. 8. 1959 INVENTOR.

PETER R. cSTRAVlCK,

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent f 3,855,228 PUMPENG UNTT FUR MEETIPLE WELLS Peter R. McStravick, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production ResearchCompany, Tulsa, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 858,242 4 Claims. (Cl. 74-108) The present invention concerns a multiple sucker rod pumping unit.

In recent years, in an effort to reduce the cost of drilling and completing oil and gas wells, many wells have been completed in two or more producing horizons or zones and the production conducted to the surface through two or more parallel spaced-apart tubing strings.

In the case of dual oil wells requiring artificial lift for at least two of the producing zones, the pumping equipment many times limits the ability to produce the allowable of these zones and additionally, the cost of the surface equipment may be a limiting factor in the economic feasibility of multiple completions.

To provide complete flexibility of operation, it has been a practice to set independent multiple beam pumping units, each having its own prime mover. This arrangement generally referred to as head-to-head pumping has the advantage of independent adjustment of speed, stroke length, counterweight, and pumping schedule; however, it has the disadvantages of high initial cost and difliculties encountered because of the close clearances between the horse heads and carrier bars.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in one pumping unit driven by one prime mover the flexibility of multiple independent units with a resultant reduction in the cost of the initial installation and without, at the same time, encountering close clearance problems.

In brief, the invention comprises apparatus for pumping multiple zones of a multiply completed well comprising a plurality of spaced-apart rod strings extending from the well, a frame, a walking beam pivotally mounted on said frame, means for moving one end of said walking beam vertically, a plurality of flexible connectors interconnecting each of said rod strings and the other end of said walking beam, a multiple sheave block mounted on said frame, each flexible connector being reaved about a different sheave, said sheave being arranged such that said flexible connector extends vertically from the sheave to the sucker rod connection, and means for adjusting the position of the flexible connector on the walking beam. To provide the desired spacing of the sheaves so that the flexible connectors extend vertically and provide straight line alignment between the sheaves and the rod strings, the sheaves may be offset or various diameter sheaves may be used as seen in the figures.

The above object and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a more detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of one portion; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of a modified arrangement of the sheaves shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, in FIG. 1 is shown a wellhead through which extends three tubing strings 11, 12 and 13 to which are connected, respectively, production conduits 14, 15 and 16. Polished rods 17, 18 and 19 extend into the upper end respectively of tubing springs 11, 12 and 13. Positioned adjacent wellhead 10 is a skid or base 20 upon which is arranged a frame 21. An API twin crank pumping unit gear reducer 22 to which is connected a drive, not shown, is mounted on skid 20. Two cranks, 23 and 24, having counterweights 25 and 26, respectively, are connected to and are driven by 3,055,223 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 gear reducer 22. Wrist pins 27 interconnect the lower ends of pitmans 28 and the cranks. The upper ends of pitmans 28 connect to an equalizer 29 which is mounted on one end of a walking beam 30 on a beam pitman bearing 31. Walking beam 30 is pivotal on a saddle bearing 32 arranged on frame 21 which includes a portion extending to adjacent the end of walking beam 30 nearest wellhead 10 and which has arranged thereon a block 33 to which is connected a plurality of rotatable sheaves 34, 35 and 36 (shown in dotted lines) 'of different diameters. A plurality of cables or flexible connectors 37, 38 and 39 connect rod strings 17, 18, and 19, respectively, to walking beam 30. Flexible connector 37 wraps around sheave 34 to align the flexible connector 37 with the sucker rod 17. Similarly, flexible connectors 38 and 39 wrap around sheaves 35 and 36, respectively, to align the lower portions of flexible connectors 38 and 39 with rod strings 18 and 19, respectively. The upper ends of flexible rod connectors 37, 38 and 39 connect to adjustable bridles 40, 41 and 42 arranged or mounted on walking beam 30, as shown more clearly in FIG. 2.

Although various diameter sheaves are shown and described with regard to 'FIG. 1, instead of using various diameter sheaves, sheaves of the same diameter may be offset to achieve the desired alignment of the flexible connectors and the various rod strings. Thus, as seen in FIG. 3, three equal diameter rotatable sheaves 45, 46, and 47 are mounted on a head 48, to which is connected a block 33a, which in turn is arranged on frame 21 (not shown). Flexible connectors 37, 38, and 39 wrap about sheaves 45, 46, and 47, respectively.

In operation, walking beam 30 reciprocates through reciprocation of pitmans 28 operated by the prime mover, not shown, through the gear reducer 22. As walking beam 30 reciprocates, the rod strings 17, 18 and 19, are reciprocated by vertical movement of the flexible rod connectors 37, 38 and 39, respectively, which traverse sheaves 34, 35 and 36, respectively, of stationary block 33. The stroke of each individual polished rod 17, 18 and 19 may be varied by changing the position of the bridles 40, 41 or 42, respectively, on the walking beam 30. The maximum stroke is effected at the end of the walking beam and the minimum stroke is near saddle bearing 32.

Having fully described the elements, operation, and objects of my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for pumping a plurality of zones penetrated by a well in which are arranged a plurality of spaced-apart tubing strings comprising:

an individually movable, spaced-apart rod string extending into each of said tubing strings;

a frame;

a walking beam pivotally mounted on said frame;

means for moving said walking beam on said pivot for reciprocating the ends of said walking beam;

a plurality of sheaves mounted on said frame; and

a plurality of flexible connectors, each flexible connector connecting one end of said walking beam with each of said rod strings such that reciprocation of said one end of said walking beam reciprocates said flexible connectors, said flexible connectors en gaging said sheaves in a manner such that straight line alignment of each flexible connector is formed between the sheave with which each engages and the rod string to which it is connected.

2. Apparatus for pumping a plurality of zones pene trated by a well in which are arranged a plurality of spaced-apart tubing strings comprising:

an individually movable spaced-apart rod string extending into each of said tubing strings;

a frame;

a walking beam pivotally mounted on said frame;

means for moving said walking beam on said pivot for reciprocating the ends of said Walking beam;

a plurality of sheaves mounted on said frame;

a plurality of flexible connectors, each flexible connector connecting one end of said walking beam with each of said rod strings such that reciprocation of said one end of said walking beam reciprocates said flexible connectors, said flexible connectors engaging said' sheaves in a manner such that straight line alignment of each flexible connector is formed between the sheave with which each engagesand the rod string to which it is connected; and

, said one end of said walking beam to whichsaid flexible connectors are adapted to connect being provided with a plurality of spaced-apart openings to permit lengthening and shortening of the stroke of each of said rod strings by connecting said flexible connectors to' diiferent openings.

3. Apparatus for pumping a plurality of zones penetrated by a well in which are arrangeda plurality of spaced-apart tubing strings comprising:

an individually movable, spaced-apart rod string extending into each of said tubing strings;

a frame;

a walking beam pivotally mounted on said frame;

- means for moving said walking beam on said pivot for reciprocating the ends of said walking beam;

' a plurality of sheaves mounted on said frame and rotatable on a common axis; and

a plurality of flexible connectors, each flexible connector connecting said one end of said walking beam with each of said rod strings such that reciprocation of said one end of said walking'beam reciprocates said flexible connectors, said'sheaves being of different diameters and said flexible connectors engaging said sheaves such that straight line align- A. ment of each flexible connector is formed between the sheave with which each engages and the rod string to which it is connected.

tending into each of said tubing strings;

a frame; a walking beam pivotally mounted on said frame; means for moving said walking beam on said pivot for reciprocating the ends of said walking beam;

9 a plurality of sheaves mounted on said frame; and

plurality of flexible connectors, each flexible connector connecting one end of said walking beam with each of said rod strings such that reciprocation of said one end of said Walking beam reciprocates said flexible connectors, said sheaves being of the same diameter and offset one from another and said flexible connectors engaging said sheaves such that straight line alignment of each flexible connector is formed between the sheave with which each engages and the rod string to which it is connected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Morgan Oct, 27, 1959 

